SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
Stock image: Man looking at mirror. (Getty Images/Wavebreakmedia)
Small yellow patches around the eyes may be more than a cosmetic concern—new research suggests they could signal an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
The patches, known as xanthelasma, are yellowish plaques or bumps that typically develop on or around the eyelids, and they contain deposits of cholesterol and other fats and are often associated with high cholesterol.
However, they can also appear in people whose cholesterol levels are considered normal.
Now, a large study published in the medical journal Atherosclerosis has found that people diagnosed with xanthelasma had substantially higher rates of heart attacks, strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) than people without the condition.
The Study
Researchers analyzed electronic health records using TriNetX, a research network containing data from more than 150 million patients, identifying 17,925 adults with xanthelasma and comparing them with people without the condition.
One year after diagnosis, 1 percent of patients with xanthelasma had experienced a heart attack, compared with 0.35 percent in the matched control group. That amounted to nearly three times the risk.
A similar pattern emerged for strokes. Around 0.95 percent of people with xanthelasma experienced a stroke within a year, compared with 0.30 percent of controls. The risk of a TIA was also more than three times higher.
The differences persisted over longer periods. After 10 years, 3.13 percent of patients with xanthelasma had experienced a heart attack, compared with 1.73 percent of those without it. Stroke rates were 3 percent and 1.53 percent, respectively.
Importantly, the findings show an association rather than proving that xanthelasma causes cardiovascular disease.
A Potential Connection
Scientists have long investigated a possible connection between the condition and atherosclerosis, in which fatty material accumulates inside arteries and can eventually restrict or block blood flow.
The researchers also found similar rates of heart attacks, strokes and TIAs among xanthelasma patients with and without dyslipidemia, a term for abnormal levels of fats in the blood.
This suggests the patches could provide information about cardiovascular risk even when conventional cholesterol measurements do not reveal an obvious problem.
Cosmetic Concerns
The authors said people with xanthelasma often see dermatologists because of concerns about their appearance, while cardiovascular risk factors may be undiagnosed or poorly controlled.
They concluded that regular primary-care monitoring could help identify those risks earlier, allowing doctors to consider measures such as lifestyle changes, cholesterol-lowering treatment and blood-pressure control.
The study had limitations, including its reliance on coded electronic medical records, as well as other factors that may influence cardiovascular health, like socioeconomic status.
Still, the findings suggest that an easily visible feature around the eyes could offer doctors another reason to take a closer look at a patient’s cardiovascular health.
Courtesy: Newsweek
